Facebook fans to decide next Iowa Travel Guide cover

January 23, 2013 (Des Moines, Iowa) — Travel Iowa Facebook fans have the power to determine the cover of the next Iowa Travel Guide. Through February 1, fans can cast their vote for their favorite of three cover options at www.facebook.com/IowaTourism.

“In December we asked travelers to submit their best Iowa photos,” said Shawna Lode, manager of the Iowa Tourism Office. “We were thrilled to receive more than 600 entries. It was a difficult task to narrow it down, but the three finalists are great representations of Iowa vacation experiences.”

The finalists include boaters having fun on an Okoboji lake entered by Brock Bringle of Storm Lake, a family hiking at Maquoketa Caves State Park submitted by Kelsey Delperdang of Cedar Rapids and a kayaker enjoying the Turkey River sent in by Jessica Rilling from Cedar Rapids.

The four-color guide is Iowa’s comprehensive trip-planning publication, with listings from more than 700 attractions, 550 hotels, 160 bed and breakfasts and 400 campgrounds in addition to information on state parks, trails and scenic byways. The Iowa Tourism Office distributes more than 100,000 copies of the Iowa Travel Guide annually to travelers from every state and around the world. The new guide will be available in the spring of 2013. A digital version will also be available at traveliowa.com.

Fans may vote once a day per Facebook profile. The winning cover will be announced February 4.

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7 billion in expenditures, employs 63,400 people statewide and generates $328 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information about Iowa tourism, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.